Ophthalmic mounting



July 5, 1932. E. M. SPLAINE OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING Filed- Sept 24 1929'dwardlllfi him. if 18-I. INVNTOR A TTORNE Y fPaitented July 5, 1-932 FFICE EDWARD M. SPLAINE, or SOUTHBRIDGE, rrAs'sAoHUs-urrs', ASSIGNOR roAMERICAN OPTICAL COMPANY, or SOUTHBBIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A VOLUNTARYASSOCIA- TIOIN' OF MASSACHUSETTS :OIPH'VTHALMIG MOUNTING Applicationfiled September 24, 1929. Serial No. 394,773.

This invention relates to improvements in 'o'phthalmic mountings and hasparticular reference to an improved spring connection for saidmountings.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improvedconnection for a detachable spring bridge for an. ophthalmic mount-'ing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a detachable spring whichmay be quickly and rigidly secured to an ophthalmic mounting and whichwill not become loose during its continued use.

Another object is to simplify the bridge connection inophthalmicmountings, particularly' mountings requiring pivoted bridge springs. i

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for takingup loose play and wear in spring bridge connections for ophthalmicmountings, particularly in interchangeable spring bridge connections.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,and it will be understood that many changes may be made in the detailsof construction and arrangement of parts without departing from thespirit of the invention as'expressed in the accompanying claims. I,therefore, do not wish to belimited-to the exact details shown and .de-'

scribed as the preferred form only has bee shown by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawing: Fig. I is a front elevation of an ophthalmicmounting embodying the invention.

Fig. II shows the mounting in folded or closed position.

Fig. III is a fragmentary enlarged view of the spring connection shownpartly in cross section.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary plan view of'a portion of the spring connectionshown in Fig. III. p

Fig. V is a cross section on line VV of Fig. III.

' Spring bridges are adaptedto be used with an ophthalmic mountingcommonly known as the folding -Oxford or other generally similareyeglasses. The pivoted bridge sprmg of such mountings usually comprisesspring pivotal connections at each end of the bridge spring of preciousmetal and by.

detachably connecting the bridge spring with its pivot connectionrepairs are greatly facilitated in case of the breakage of the spring,

thereby reducing the cost of parts and repalrs. Several attempts havebeen made to accomplish this result, many of which have been impracticalbecause of the continual wear of parts during their use, which soonresulted in a loose, wabbly connection, and

others of which were impractical because too justable means foreliminating looseness and to compensate for wear of parts. The device issimple in construction and is easily and quickly interchanged.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the illustrative embodimentof the invention comprises the lenses 1 mounted in the lens frames 2connected by the bridge spring 3. Nose guards 4, as indicated, may bemounted on suitable posts secured to the lens frames 2. The bridgespring 3 is provided at each end with a spring pivot connection 5to-allow the mounting to be folded, as illustrated in Fig. II. Underthese conditions a notch 6 may be made in a suitable enlargement 7 onone of the lens frames 2 to be engaged by a spring catch or other means23 the bridge spring 3 comprise a pivot casi [1g 9 which maysubstantially enclose the pivot knuckle 10 formed on the lens frame 2.The casing 9 is pivotally secured to the knuckle 10 by the screw or likemeans 11. The said casing is provided with a grooved. portion 12 adaptedto receive the perforated end of the spring 3, and is provided adjacentone end thereof with a tapered portion 13 adapted to engage a lug 14carried by the spring 3. The lug 14 is provided with a shouldered head15 which has a tapered undercut portion 16 with which the taperedportion 13 of the casing 9 interlocks. The tapered portion 13 and lug 14are held in constant engagement with each other by a screw or like means17 which secures the spring 3 to the casing. The lug 1 1 is secured tothe spring 3 by heading over the portion 18 which extends through anopening formed in the spring.

The lens frames 2 are split at19 topermit the removal and replacement oflenses. A screw or like meansiQO is ada-ptedito close the splitv andhold the lensin the frame.

By reference toFig. IIIyit-will be seen that a slight clearance 21 isformed between casing 9 and the end of the spring 3: adjacent the screwconnection 17 to: al'lowflthelugle and the end 13 of the casing 9 toberigidly drawn together and also to take upanywear or loose play at thatconnection. It will .be seen that the spring 3-may be quicklyinterchanged by simply removing the screw 17 and sliding the lug letfree of the tapered end 13. To secure the spring 3 in position the-screw17 1S tightened until the parts a-re drawnrigidly together. The tapered:end 13 of the casing 9 and the tapered lug 14c provideasimpleinterchangeable connection wherein loose play and wear of partsmay be quickly removed and compensated for bysimplyrtightening the screw17.

From the foregoingdescription-itwill be seen that I have providedsimple,-economical and efiicacious meansof forming :an interchangeablebridge-spring for an ophthalmic mountingwherein the springmay be quicklyand rigidly secured to themounting.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. An interchangeable springbridge for an ophthalmic mounting comprising a spring member havingperforations adjacent its ends and intermediate its ends-andlugs intheintermediate perforations having tapered undercut portions.

2. In a device of the character described in combination with the lensholding means of an ophthalmic mounting,-a projecting member on the lensholding means having atapered portion adjacent its free end, means:forconnecting the lens holding means together,--alug on the connectingmeans having a tapered under cut portion in engagement withthe'taperedend of the projec-ting 'member and means for securingtthe-connectingmeans'to the proj ecting member to hold the tapered under cut lugineng-agement witlrthe tapered end of said projecting member.

'3. In a device of the character described-in combination withithelens-holding means of anophthalmicmounting, r a projecting memberpivoted to the lens holding-means and having a tapered notched portionadjacent its free end, resilient means for connecting the lens holdingmeans together, a lug on the resilient connecting means having a taperedunder cut portion in engagement with the tapered notched end of theprojecting member and means for securing the connecting means to theprojecting member to hold the tapered under cut lugin engagement withthe tapered notched end of "saidprojecting member.

4. In. a device of the character described in combination with the lensholding means of an ophthalmic-mounting, a member pivotally connectedadjacent one of its ends to the lens holding means and having-a groovedextension terminating in atapered portion adjacent the end oppositethepivot, a spring member, a lug on the spring member having a taperedunder cut portion engaging the tapered end of the.grooved'extension,said spring member having 'a portion thereofdyingwithin the grooved extension and means for securing the portion ofthesprin'g'within the groove and-simultaneously securingthe tapered end ofthe grooved-extension and tapered under cut lug ininterlocking-engagement with each other.

5. In a device of the character described in combination with the lensholding means of an ophthalmic mounting, a member pivotally connectedadjacent one of its ends to the lens holding means and havinga groovedextension terminating in a notched portion adjacent the end oppositethe: pivot,*a spring member, a lug on'thespring member-engaging thenotched end of the grooved: extension,

said spring member having 'a portion thereof. lying within the groovedextension and means for securing the portion of the spring within thegroove and simultaneously 'securing the lug within the notchedrend.

6. In a device of the character described in combination with thelens'h'ol'd-ing means "of an ophthalmic mounting, a spring anchor memberconnected to the lens holding means and'having a grooved extensionterminating in a tapered portion adjacent one endthereof and having anenlarged angle'portion adjacent the pivot connection,'said 'angledpor-'tion having a threaded recess therein, a

spring in the groove and hold the tapered lug and tapered end inengagement with each other.

7. In a device of the character described in combination with the lensholding means of an ophthalmic mounting, a spring anchor memberpivotally connected to the lens holding means and having a groovedextension terminating in a notched portion adjacent one end thereof andhaving an enlarged angled portion adjacent the pivot connection, saidangled portion having a threaded recess therein, a spring member havinga portion adjacent its end lying Within the grooved extension and havingan angled perforated end portion overlying the threaded recess in theangled portion of the anchor member, a lug on the spring member inengagement With the notched end when the spring is in position Withinthe groove and a screw member extending Within the perforated end of thespring member and in the threaded recess to secure the end of the springin the groove and hold the lug in engagement with the notched end of thegrooved extension.

EDWARD M. SPLAINE.

